The matchupDespite losing last year’s leading scorer in forward Tanika Mays, the Rockets retained three of their four top scorers from a MAC West championship squad that thumped Western Michigan by 20-plus points in both meetings. Guard Jessica Williams and sharpshooter Naama Shafir both proved to be most troublesome for the Broncos last season, and come into Saturday’s game averaging double-digit scoring. The Rockets don’t overwhelm teams with their scoring, averaging 64.9 points a game. However, Toledo’s defense yields an average of 61.5 points a game, and the Broncos have crumbled via unnecessary turnovers and poor shooting performances against far lesser defenses.

PredictionI’d be higher on the Broncos had they pulled out a victory on Wednesday against Central Michigan and shown any sort of indicator that this year’s conference slate might be different. We haven’t seen WMU play two full halves of solid basketball yet, and it will be mighty hard to start now against the reigning MAC West champions. It seemed Miame Giden could give the Broncos a huge boost after she scored 15 points in her first game back. But, against the Chippewas, she put in six points while continuing to play in limited fashion. Western Michigan simply doesn’t have the firepower to be hanging with the big dogs right now.